What should I do with this Super Beetle?
 

Wife's non-mechanically savvy brother from Texas hauled this early 70's Super Beetle up to us from Texas. Afew years ago, he and his then teen son, were going to "fix it up" and repaint it. Unfortunately they sanded to bare metal in many spots then proceeded to spray THE WHOLE car (including mirrors, door handles etc) with rattle can primer.

The car is an auto stick and I got it running just for kicks last year, but it obviously needs a ton of work, however the only problem rust is in the battery box area of the pan. I had 2 beetles as first cars and did a bunch of work to them, living in Ohio, most beetles on the road back then had rotted floorpans and door post columns/pillars where they attach to the floorpan. This one coming from Texas, IS SOLID.

While I need another project like I need a hole in my head, my mind keeps envisioning a stripped out fat and wide "sports car" type project, or a fake BajaBug look (it has the struts up front, so it would not make for a very good "real" Baja bug).

It is just sitting behind my hangar patiently waiting for the next chapter of it's life. Should it go to the junkyard, or should I dive into it? :confused: :)

Pimp it on TheSamba and get out from under it while you still can.

A couple weeks ago I dragged home a '61 and '74 bug - got 'em for free, but they're not worth the hassle. The '74 is reasonably complete, straight and dry, but the engine is seized up.

http://vintagebus.com/gallery/section/image/2103238.JPG

Junk it. 2,000 headaches later it's still a '70s Super Beetle. Expend your finite number of hearbeats on an MGA, Jaguar XK120 or Aston. :)

What kind of responses do you think you're going to get on a car enthusiast's board?

Thom, is that singlecab a robin egg blue? What year is it? My 63 crewcab was that color, such great memories.

Mods feel free to delete this duplicate thread.

Now we've got the mods permanently confused.

All of this from Barbados with a Fast Sattelite connection.



Now, what was the question?

cut out the rot, weld in a new battery pan and put it together.

try go here

Super Beetles Only

Dimensions of a SB are incredibly close to those of a 914. I can tell you, they can be made to handle fantastic, no good for a baja bug though, shame to cut it up for that.

'71 Superbeetle and an Economy tractor in the background. Man, that brings back memories...

Thanks for fixing my mess fingpilot! :D

I keep getting interrupted at work while doing my daily Pelican routine! :D

With the cult like following the beetle has I would think it would be worth something to somebody. 70's is pre smog in Calif (no smog test) if nothing else sell it cheap or gift it to someone that needs a project car. IMHO it is has some value and shouldn't be thrown away.
YMMV

Wait a minute.... I fly for a living, and the guy FIXING the planes keeps getting interrupted here by WORK?????

Tim. Get back to work...... JK.... I'd be honored to fly what you work on.

Airplane work is on weeknights and weekends, unfortunately I have to work a day engineering job primarily for the health insurance and other benefits. ;)

Where is the Super Beetle?

I thought all Super Beetles had the curved windshields?

Not the early ones, note the strut barely visible in the front wheel opening and the rounded bottom of the trunk. The later ones also had roundish shaped taillights.

Send it to me.

Can someone educate me on the various versions of the Beetle?

I would think a later Super Beetle would be superior to a "regular" Beetle, but Tim seemd to imply they are no good for Baja Bugs.

Re: What should I do with this Super Beetle?
 

Screw a piece of plywood under the battery, get some masking tape and spray cans and make an "Art Car" out of it. A ladybug motif might work well.

Works on Geo Trackers too.:D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/278113-zebra-car-its-done.html?highlight=zebra
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1145470839.jpg


http://www.jlcollector.com/273.html
http://www.jlcollector.com/tbvw/vwbox65hippie.jpg

Alot of people think that. The strut front suspension while "better" when new tends to wear out quicker than the standard beetles beam suspension. A standard Beetle has a simpler and stronger front suspension.

I think for a street car the Super would be okay but I have heard rumor that even those have issues. But I don't know for sure. My Beetle is allergic to asphalt.:D

EDIT: Seriosly, send it to me.;)

I asked a similar question about 2 years ago -- I had just found a '70 Bug, and was curious if it could be made to handle like a 911, if properly outfitted. Now, 2 years and about $10K later, the answer is "yes," but I find that it really wasn't worth it.

So, having just answered your curiousity, you can now safely discard this Bug for whatever anyone will pay for it, and feel good knowing that, had you decided to spend $10K on a VW, you would have had a quick little car that cost you way too much money. :)

Thanks for that link, I found a couple neat ones there along with a bunch of nasty ones.

I am coming to the realization that I am a hard core pack rat! I just can't bear parting with anything with an engine!

Thanks for the thoughts thus far. I know deep down, that my spare time would be better spent finishing and starting more worthy projects, but the Beetle disease that I suffered as a youngster keeps flaring back up. :D

Or you could always send it to me......;)

I am having a weak moment Shawn, give me $150 and come haul it away so I will stop thinking about it.

I think Shawn would take it. You should ask him.

You have a PM.

I'd love to have a Baja Bug or even a modded street bug to play with but I don't have any "extra" money.

pm' d ya back Shawn.

Supers are great, remember, that is where the Porsche 924 front susp. You can add 944 susp & brakes front & rear (68 up beetles the rear is bolt on) notch the pan and you use a Porsche 901 tranny, a 2.0 914 engine can be bumped up to a 3.2. Kaper Cup cars rule!!!

Or you could do this.

http://www.europeancarweb.com/events/0501ec_vw_fun_cup/http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176325002.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176325033.jpg

D@mn you Byron! THat is just the kind of crap I do not need to see! :D

Easy answer: give it to me! I want a project car, and I've been thinking about Beetles...or VWs in general. Plus, if it's an auto, that's all I'd need to hear!

:eek: $150?! Wow, finally something I can afford! :D LOL

Do it P-girl, Do it! Think of the fun! Think of the Glory! (but don't think of the money...)

stolen from another thread...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176330512.jpg

VW catfish?

Shawn has first dibs (unless Byron posts a bunch more pics of tricked out Beetles :D .....d@mn you Byron!).

Call me names, but I wouldn't mind a Beetle painted like "Herbie" with a serious engine, suspension, and tires. Can a 911 motor be stuffed in a Beetle?

Is this even remotely true? If so, I NEED a Bug!

I can personally attest to the fact that a Super Beetle can be made to handle well. Saw an old car magazine article about a Kafer Cup car against a 911 race car. Both were 2.4 liter cars as I recall. Yeah, bug won at the track.

It is sort of funny when you see the 944 part next to the VW one. The same, only instead of stamped steel, it is beefy and forged, with a bigass vented rotor on it. That car is lighter than a 914 by a surprising amount, and 914's are pretty damn light. Try go to

German Look

turns out, putting front brakes off a 993 turbo would be relatively straightforward to do. How would that be on a 1900 lb rear engine car? Maybe with 225 tires on there

:confused:

how much power can you get out of a type IV engine, I guess the answer to that is another question, how deep is your wallet

Yes, Kafer Cup Suoer beetles rule, I have an old magazine somewhere where they raced a Kafer against 993 RSR and beat it.

Here is a link to a modded Super.

http://www.clubvw.org.au/steve.htm



http://www.ultravw.com/germaniac.htmlhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176355927.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176355955.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176355977.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176356040.jpg German Look

From Classic Volkswagen Technical Wiki
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The German Look originated in Germany (hence the name!). It is a modern style, and was a result of people upgrading their Volkswagens with Porsche parts to be used in the "Kafer Cup". These days the vehicles are still inspired mainly from Porsches, but also any high-performace circuit racing car.

Specific items might include:

large Porsche or modern alloys with low profile tyres as you would find on German race cars
large brakes: upgraded from drums to disk brakes
modern monochromatic paint schemes: often colors used on Porsche cars.
no chrome: removing all chrome on the car and painting them the same color as the body
level stance: closer to the growned to stick to the road
large engines: see Type IV conversion
'Form follows function' is a common buzzword, though actually the car doesn't have to perform as well as it looks (hence the 'look'). This look can be applied to any Volkswagen, though the 1303 is often chosen because of superior handling, and aerodynamics. Also, as part of the style, the Type I engine is often swaped with a Type IV engine (from a Type 4 Volkswagen or a Porsche 914) to provide more power.

For further information on the German look, see germanlook.com. Browse through the users rides to see some great exemples.

See also Cal Look, Resto Cal Look and French Look.

Retrieved from "http://volkswagens.wikia.com/wiki/German_Look"


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176356934.jpg

Look it up:cool: